by Joe Vadalma
"Yeah. I was thinking about all that stuff. Maybe it would be better if we told them before we left."
"Whatever you think is best."
She kissed him again and said, “Okay, let's go back to the house. We'll tell them in the morning."
"Sure. Say Raven, what was that you put in your purse when I came up?"
"Oh nothing much."
"Is it a secret? C'mon, let me see."
Morgaine/Raven gazed at him. It was obvious that he was determined to examine what she had so surreptitiously removed from his sight. “Okay, if you really want to see it. It's not pretty though.” She took out the jar, unwrapped it and placed it on the bench.
Keith bent down to get a close look. He straightened suddenly. “What the hell? It looks like a goddamn fetus. It moved like it's alive."
"It's a homunculus."
"A what?"
"An artificial person."
Keith looked as though he'd seen something so strange that it had set his mind awhirl. “How? Why? Wait, I remember something that I'd forgotten."
Morgaine/Raven said in her strange demon-like voice, “And you will forget it again. You will also forget what you saw here."
Keith's eyes rolled up into his head, and he stood stiffly for a few minutes. Morgaine/Raven rewrapped the jar with homunculus in it and returned it to Raven's purse. Keith returned to normal, and they strolled toward the mansion as though nothing had happened.
CHAPTER 17
THE SECRET OF LIFE AND DEATH
The house was dark when Raven and Keith returned. Ellul and Melody had retired. Keith yawned mightily, an indication that he would like to do the same.
"Sleepy?” Morgaine/Raven asked.
"Yeah."
"Go to bed. There's something I want to look at in one of those old books on Alchemy that Ellul keeps. I'll be up in a couple of minutes."
She watched Keith until he was past the landing before she entered the library. She went directly to the secret panel, descended to the basement and hurried to the altar room in the labyrinth. She removed the wrapping and top from the jar that contained the fetus. It had already grown some and was taking on a human shape. She left it there and returned to Raven's room. Since Keith was asleep, she undressed quickly and slid under the covers.
* * * *
The next morning at breakfast, Keith announced that the detectives were resigning from Ellul's employ.
"But why?” Melody asked. She seemed ready to burst into tears.
"Hey look, we accomplished everything you asked of us. Your husband has been returned to you. We rescued the robot from its kidnappers. This Claudia person who was stalking you has disappeared. We found Doctor Dee's and Frankenstein's journals and that philosopher's stone or whatever it was that Doctor Dee hid in Prague. I printed out the files you erased, at least as much of them as was possible to retrieve. Our job is done. What else is there?"
Ellul nodded. “He's right, y'know, Melody. If the secret of life and death exists at all, it's up to me figure out the formula from the information they've obtained for us. I'll take everything back to New York to examine."
Melody said, “I'm going to miss you, Raven. I feel as though I'm losing a friend."
"Hey,” Raven said, “there's no reason we can't get together once in a while. In fact, why don't you join my Wicca Coven. It's really just an excuse for a bunch of friends to get together. You don't have perform any of the rituals if you feel that your religion won't allow it."
"Thank you, Raven. Maybe I will. And we'll definitely get together."
"When are you leaving?” asked Ellul.
"Friday afternoon."
Ellul reached into his pocket, peeled off ten hundred-dollar bills from a large roll and handed them to Keith. “This is on account. Bill us for however much more we still owe you."
For a while they chatted about the detectives’ future plans. Later Raven went for a walk with Ellul and Melody. Keith went down by the computers to check their E-mail.
* * * *
That afternoon, when Keith and Raven were alone, Keith said, “Why are we hanging around here until Friday? Why don't we leave right away?"
"What's the rush?” Morgaine/Raven said. “This is like a vacation."
"It's this house. And that guy Ellul. They both give me the creeps."
She patted him on the cheek. “My big, brave Keith. Nothing scares you except haunted houses and sorcerers."
He made a face. “Cut it out, Raven. There's something else. I've been having bad dreams."
"Oh? About demons with big tits again?"
"No. They've been about you."
"Oh yeah. What about me?"
"I keep dreaming that you turned into that old friend of yours, that Morgaine gal. And in one you were keeping something awful in a jar. It's kind of jumbled and I don't recall the details. You know how dreams are."
"Well, they're just dreams. Don't worry about them. I'm sure you can stand two more days here. I want to spend time with Melody. The old gal is lonely."
"Yeah, okay. Maybe I'll go into Woodstock and rent a couple of action movies. I'm bored too."
"Good idea. Get a romantic comedy for me while you're at it."
"Sure Raven.” He scratched his head. “Say, since when are you into romance movies? Before you always want me to get horror or sci-fi."
Morgaine/Raven shrugged.
A little while later, he left to get the videotapes.
* * * *
Friday, a big storm, the remnant of a hurricane that had smashed into the gulf states a few days earlier, hit the east coast with major thunderstorms and tornado warnings, what people in the east call a Nor'easter. As a result, although the detectives were already packed, they decided to stay over one more night. Ellul and Melody had also planned to return to Manhattan Saturday, so they decided to have a little going away party that evening.
Friday afternoon, Morgaine took over Raven again and persuaded Ellul to accompany her to the library alone. Keith and Melody were in the sitting room watching one of the movies Keith had rented. Once inside the library, Morgaine/Raven locked the door and said, “I have something to show you, Michael."
"Who's speaking, Raven or Morgaine?” he asked.
"Morgaine, honey.” She saddled up to him flirtatiously.
He pulled away. “Okay, what is it that you want me to see? And when are you going to leave this poor girl alone?"
"Soon. Come."
She led him into the cellar labyrinth. At the sacrifice room, Ellul stepped in first, and Morgaine/Raven shined a light on the altar.
"Well, what is it? All I see, is a broken glass jar."
"What!” she cried. “Let me see.” Morgaine/Raven rushed forward. The jar was tipped over, and liquid had seeped onto the altar. It had a crack in it and a chip was missing. Morgaine/Raven moved the light to the floor. Tiny wet footprints led away. She quickly raised her flashlight.
"Damn rats. They must've knocked it over,” she said.
"What was in it?"
She peered into his face. “I learned Dee's secret formula, the one that Doctor Frankenstein discovered in his writings. I created a homunculus."
"You what? Explain what you did."
She told him how she had mixed Keith's semen with Raven's blood and other ingredients and invoked certain dark angels. “Don't you see. It's the secret of life and death. With it, you can restore Melody's youth."
"Bah. You're a fool, Morgaine. I already went that route, many years ago. The only thing that formula was good for was for making a soulless golem, a monster with less sense than our mechanical man, Isaac."
"But you didn't have all the information. Let me prove it to you. Next week, bring Melody to the institute. I'll make her young again."
This made Ellul pause. He glared suspiciously. “How can you be sure it'll work? I don't want you performing experiments on her with unknown results."
"Okay, we'll try the formula on someone else first. How about the body
of the person I now inhabit? Raven?” Raven's mind shrunk back in fear. She became so terrified that she trembled despite Morgaine's control.
"No!” cried Ellul. “Can't you see that you're frightening your former friend? Besides, she's already young. It wouldn't prove a thing."
"Okay, I'll find an old wretch, a half-mad street person, and we'll do the experiment on her."
Ellul shook his head in disgust. “You're completely amoral, aren't you, Morgaine? But what should I expect from someone who, when she was alive, dealt with demons and has now become one herself?"
"Hey, if the experiment works, we'll have done the person a great service.” Morgaine/Raven stood as close as possible to Ellul, put her arms around his neck and whispered throatily, “And, if the results are positive, think what it could mean for you and Melody, thousands of years together. You'd never be lonely again."
Ellul's expression changed. It was certain that he was tempted. “Why are you so interested in doing this?” he asked. “What's in it for you?"
"You know I never stopped loving you. That's why I sacrificed my body and soul for you. I want you to be happy. It would ease the pain of my suffering to know that you're happy."
"If I say yes, regardless of how the experiment turns out, will you promise to leave Raven's body and return to your own world?"
"I swear on the love that I feel for you."
"Very well, find some vagrant and bring her to the institute. Call me when you do, and I'll come right out there. Do you have everything you'll need?"
"Everything except Dee's scrying stone."
"I'll bring it when I come. Now, what about the thing that was in that jar?"
"The rat that broke the jar probably ate it. It wasn't very big.” You liar, Morgaine, Raven's thoughts came through to Morgaine's ego, that thing is around somewhere.
Ellul and Raven returned separately to the sitting room. Melody and Keith were too absorbed in a movie to pay attention.
All that day the storm grew in intensity. Wild winds made the old house rattle and groan. Rain whipped against the shingles sounding like machine gun fire and seeped through to the ceiling to make puddles on the floor. For a while everyone ran around with pots, buckets and other containers to catch the flow. Great flashes of lightning came and went, followed by long rolling rumbles of thunder which echoed off the surrounding mountains. Finally, an hour after dinner, a crackling, crashing streak lit up the drawing room while they sat with drinks, reminiscing about their adventures in Europe. The lights flickered and went out. While Keith and Ellul went to the kitchen pantry where the circuit breakers were located, Melody and Raven lit candles.
Melody suddenly screamed, “What the hell was that?"
When Raven turned to look, although only two candles were lit so that the room was still quite dark, something scooted across the floor to disappear behind the sofa. Under Morgaine's control, she said, “Probably, a mouse. You'd better call an exterminator."
Melody had a panicked expression and was shuddering. Raven put her arm around her. “Not a mouse,” she said in a squeaky voice, “too big."
"A rat then."
"No. It looked like a little person."
"Ah, don't get all paranoid on me, Melody. You're giving me the willies. These candles cast weird shadows. It must've been an optical illusion."
"I'm sorry, Raven. I guess my nerves are shot from all that has happened."
"Don't tell Keith or Michael that you saw anything. They'll just make fun of us. Call us hysterical women."
"I won't.” Although Morgaine was relieved, Raven's terror grew. She wanted to take the candle over by the sofa to see what was behind it, but Morgaine wouldn't allow it.
The men came back with the bad news that they could not restore electricity. “Probably a power line is down somewhere,” Keith said.
They lit more candles and sat around drinking again. Whatever had crossed the room did not make another appearance. About midnight, they toasted friendship for the umpteenth time and went to their rooms.
Raven could not sleep. The storm did not abate, and she kept waiting for the little creature to appear. She was not disappointed. About two in the morning, a streak of lightning lit up the room as bright as day. At the foot of the bed holding a kitchen knife almost as long as itself was an awful, creature, two foot tall, naked, with an infant's body and a large head with a demon's evil, malignant, ugly face.
Before Morgaine could stop her, Raven screamed with terror. Keith leaped up and grabbed Raven. She kept screaming. “What's the matter, Baby, another nightmare?” She only stopped when he enfolded her in his arms.
She shivered and shook as though she had a fever. “Nightmare? God, I only wish. There's a thing in here. And its got a big knife."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"The homunculus. Do something."
When he heard the creature's movements, he grabbed the flashlight he'd put on the night stand because of the power failure and sent its beam searching around the room. The homunculus scrabbled around to avoid the light. Another lightning flash lit up the room, revealing that the monster was near the bed. With a leap, it bounded up and landed next to Keith's legs. In one movement Keith shoved Raven off the bed, drew up his knees and reached for his revolver hanging on the bedpost. All went dark. Keith yelled a curse word, fired his pistol and grunted as he and the homunculus scuffled on the bed. Raven crawled along the floor searching for the flashlight that Keith had dropped. Just as she reached it, the creature jumped onto her back digging its long nails into her flesh painfully, leaped off immediately and headed toward the door. She turned on the flashlight as it sped through the door. Keith groaned, and Raven shined the light on him. The hilt of the knife protruded from his thigh, and blood spurted from the wound. Raven slipped off her nightgown, ripped it in two and tied it around Keith's leg to stem the bleeding.
Ellul and Melody burst into the room. The light from Ellul's flashlight blinded Raven. “What happened?” Melody cried. “We heard a gunshot."
"Turn that goddamn light away from me; I've got nothing on. Keith's been stabbed. One of you run downstairs and call 911. You do it, Ellul. Melody, help me stop the blood flow."
"What? Who stabbed him?"
"Never mind that. Help me. He's bleeding to death."
Ellul returned to their room where there was a phone. Raven showed Melody the wound. “Leave the knife in. They'll take it out at the hospital. Keith, stay still."
"Okay, but Raven, what about the thing that stabbed me?” Keith asked, still gripping his pistol and staring around wildly.
Melody said, “Give me the flashlight, Raven. I'll get bandages and antiseptic."
"Yeah, do that.” After Melody left the room, Raven said, “Keith, don't worry about the homunculus. It ran out of the room. You're firing that shot must've scared it. Can you hold this until I get some clothes on?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
Raven found her jeans and a blouse in the closet. She did not bother with underwear. By that time, the Elluls had returned with candles and bandages. While Melody poured antiseptic and placed a regular bandage on the wound, Raven asked Ellul, “Did you call 911?"
"Yes. Paramedics should be here in a few minutes. Who stabbed you? Was there an intruder?"
"It was some kind of animal,” Keith said. “A little thing about two feet high, but nasty and lively. Never saw anything like it before. Raven called it a homun-culus or something like that."
Ellul stared at Raven but said nothing.
Melody said, “A what? What is he talking about, Raven?"
Morgaine caused Raven to shrug. “I didn't see it. All I know is that somebody or something jumped onto the bed, and Keith fired his gun. Next thing I know, he's got that knife sticking out of his thigh. Then you folks came into the room."
Keith groaned. In a weak voice he said, “You did see it, Raven. In fact, you saw it first."
"All I saw was a shadow. Somebody must've broken in."
&nb
sp; Melody asked, “Could it have been that Claudia woman?"
"Why'd you call it a homun ... whatever then?” Keith asked.
Morgaine/Raven replied, “You know, I think we could all use a drink. Give me one of those flashlights. I'll go down and get a bottle."
"Better take your piece,” Keith said. “In case that thing is down there."
"Good idea. The intruder's probably packing up the silverware right now.” Raven strapped on her holster, took a flashlight and went down to get the bottle of the brandy they had been drinking earlier.
Soon after she returned to the bedroom, the paramedics and police showed up. Raven rode in the ambulance with Keith. Melody and Ellul followed it to the hospital. In answer to the cops’ questions, Morgaine/Raven said, “Whoever stabbed Keith was an intruder, but it was too dark to know exactly what happened."
"It's kind of funny,” one of them said suspiciously, “that we couldn't find any sign of a break-in.” He asked Raven whether Keith and she had been quarreling.
"Hardly. We were both sound asleep when Keith was attacked."
As he was leaving, he said, “We may have more questions later."
* * * *
By midmorning Keith was patched up. The Ellul's driver took him back to Moonwood in the limo. He had to walk using a crutch but was otherwise okay. By that time, Morgaine had used her powers to convince him that he had been stabbed by an intruder.
Ellul took Morgaine/Raven to the side. “We've got to get rid of that monster you've created before someone else gets hurt."
"I agree. But how do we find it? This is a big house. The homunculus is only two feet tall. It could hide anywhere."
"Maybe it left a trail."
While Melody babied Keith, Ellul and Morgaine/Raven went hunting for the creature. They started in the bedroom where the attack had occurred. The bedding was soaked with blood. Some had dripped on the carpet when the paramedics had placed Keith on a stretcher.
"Over here,” Ellul said. He pointed at the floor by door.